Already among the most decorated gymnasts of all time, Simone Biles didn’t have too much left to prove when she returned to international competition this week.
And yet, the Olympic gold medalist put on a showcase of amazing routines and moves at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships that catapulted her into rarified air, literally and figuratively.
Biles opened the competition with a nearly flawless vault. While it wasn’t quite the Biles II that has become her calling card, this extremely difficult move, dubbed the Cheng, earned her a 15.1 score and 9.5 out of 10 on execution.
Just going to leave this Simone Biles vault here.
Enjoy.#Antwerp2023 | 📺 @peacock pic.twitter.com/p4bx3mqhX0
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) October 6, 2023
Biles followed that up with a solid score on the uneven bars, where she earned a 14.333. While on the lower end for her, it was enough to push her into first place at the halfway point, ahead of defending world champion Rebeca Andrade of Brazil.
On the beam, Biles overcame a slight wobble when she first mounted but then put together a nearly flawless routine en route to a 14.433 score.
With only the floor exercises remaining, Biles was in control of her destiny. And she lived up to the hype, earning a 14.533 score to secure the gold. Andadre took silver after scoring just 1.633 points behind Biles’ 58.399.
https://twitter.com/NBCOlympics/status/1710384793068687372
This victory means that Biles now owns the gymnastics record for medals at the Olympics and world championships combined. It also extended her current record of world gold medals won to 21.
The sports world marveled at Biles’ latest and greatest accomplishments.
Bet you’ve never seen a GOAT fly like she does. https://t.co/tOpcVfSJAR
— Hil.i.am (@hilaryluros) October 6, 2023
I don’t know shit about gymnastics other than every time I see a Simone Biles clip, it’s something that should be impossible https://t.co/zQcp8eMgWb
— Phillip Barnett (@regularbarnett) October 6, 2023
A lot of people thought Simone Biles might retire after struggling with her mental health at Tokyo 2020. It’s quite remarkable that she’s not just managed to return, but has returned to being the very best in the world. True GOAT https://t.co/ykUyX5itOy
— Nancy Gillen (@Nancy_Gillen) October 6, 2023
